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I don't understand how certain people are being "given priority" in the U.S. Yesterday I went to get the H1N1 vaccine at a local clinic and there was a line of 200 people that I would have had to wait behind. It was a mix of people and it looked like many were luckily not "high risk." I ended up skipping the line - I'll try again tomorrow.

since I moved, every time I go visit my new clinic they seem to be stabbing me. The first visit was the regular flu shot. The next time was blood for the lab work. This time was h1n1 and pneumonia. They've already scheduled hep A for my next visit.

Normally I wouldn't have taken any of these shots but being in a new state around new germs instead of the germs I was used to in OH for 25 yrs, I figured I'd take all these shots at least this first year in SC

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

I've had both - seasonal and H1N1 - and apart from the usual local tenderness around the injection site, nothing remarkable to report. I also often get a cold after the flu shot, so we'll wait and see.

Here in the UK, being positive automatically puts you on the priority list, irrespective of the actual state of your immune system. There does seem to be a difference of opinion however as to whether a booster shot is required. My ID doc said it wasn't necessary, because measured immune responses to a single shot had been generally higher in HIV positive folk than was expected. But my GP (here in the UK it's GP's who are administering the H1N1 vaccine) said that their NHS guidelines stated a second shot was indicated for anyone with HIV.

IM in spain and had the normal flu jab 2 weeks ago and due to take swine flu jab this tuesday 3 week gap reccomended, they only started last week also my wife who is on immune suppresants for chronic illness is getting it, i want it after having pnuemonia in august i could be in trouble with my lungs, even though im recovered and now on atripla with ok numbers.

It's required at my work, so I got mine last week. No pain whatsoever.

Do you work in health care?

Edit: My reason for asking this, as I explain below, is related to another conversation in a recent thread. There, someone else said that getting the vaccine was mandatory where he worked, and when I expressed surprise at this, his working in health care was presented as an explanation for the requirement. Now you also mention being required by work to get the vaccine, so I wanted to find out whether this meant that you too worked in health care or whether the practice was spreading to other kinds of workplaces as well.

Not all H1N1 vaccine has thimerosal (not mercury, though it does contain an organomercuric compound). Single-dose syringes do not, supposedly, need preservatives and do not contain thimerosal. It might be prudent to find out if the vaccine you'd be receiving contains it or not before deciding against it. The problems with mercury and thimerosal tend to be with very young children anyway... not adults. Besides, thimerosal is used in most vaccines, but not single-dose syringes.

Back to the original question... I had mine today. It was virtually pain-free and certainly was less noticeable than the seasonal flu vaccine that I had back in October.

Was your question as to whether I have a medical degree prompted by my having asked Basquo whether he worked in health care? The reason for my asking that was simple. In the last thread on the subject someone said that the vaccine was mandatory where he worked, and in response to my comments on that topic someone else pointed out that that person worked in health care. Now Basquo says that his work also required him to get the vaccine, so I wanted to find out whether he worked in health care too. Adults being required by their work to get vaccinated is something new to me, so I wanted to find out whether it is only among people working in health care that this happens, or whether the practice is more widespread.

Like DavidNC, I had the seasonal shot a few weeks ago and the H1N1 shot last week. The injection for the seasonal shot hurt more than last week's. Otherwise, no side effects at all. I went to a mass immunization in Louisville for H1N1 shot...over 16,000 in two days. It was done primarily in our cars at a football stadium parking lot (in other words a drive by injection.)

I don't understand how certain people are being "given priority" in the U.S. Yesterday I went to get the H1N1 vaccine at a local clinic and there was a line of 200 people that I would have had to wait behind. It was a mix of people and it looked like many were luckily not "high risk." I ended up skipping the line - I'll try again tomorrow.

Certain people get "priority" because the availability of the vaccine is low right now and some folks have a higher risk of a much worse outcome than the "average person" from getting this flu -- pregnant woman for one. The folks may have not "looked" high risk because perhaps they weren't, or... perhaps they are newly pregnant, or asthmatic but having a "good day"... not sure what you expected them to look like.

I got mine 2 weeks ago -- our county health dept got smart and had folks sign up, either on-line or by phone for the supply they had that day. 75 every 30 mins until the 1500 or so doses were gone. No lines resulted -- I was in and out in under 10 mins. No problems with the shot -- or since.

Certain people get "priority" because the availability of the vaccine is low right now and some folks have a higher risk of a much worse outcome than the "average person" from getting this flu -- pregnant woman for one. The folks may have not "looked" high risk because perhaps they weren't, or... perhaps they are newly pregnant, or asthmatic but having a "good day"... not sure what you expected them to look like.

I got mine 2 weeks ago -- our county health dept got smart and had folks sign up, either on-line or by phone for the supply they had that day. 75 every 30 mins until the 1500 or so doses were gone. No lines resulted -- I was in and out in under 10 mins. No problems with the shot -- or since.

Mike

Well of course I expected them all to be either pregnant or look completely bedraggled. Because it's silly to assume the NYC Dept of Health would be anything but disorganized and just have any ole Sally from the street just line up.

Edited: well I finally got somebody on the phone and it turns out this weekend there is only one clinic in Manhattan offering the H1N1 vaccine (in a school in Harlem) and you have to be in a high risk group to get the vaccine at this location. I was also told you don't have to show proof that you're in a high risk group, the would just accept your word. I am glad many here have been able to get their vaccine.

I was at my clinic today and the doctor told me I was getting both the seasonal (which is said was very mild so far this year) and the H1N1 (which he described as being "everywhere")One in each arm. Since my CD4s are just above the 300 mark I agreed it was a good idea to get both.

Next month I get to go back for the pnuemovax & the hep A ... what joy!

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne

I got mine at the Louisville event too. You just drove up in your car. I would recommend everyone get it. I've read the mercury in it is the same as eating a piece of seafood. I never got flu vaccines until last year after I got sick. I was afraid of vaccines, too.

I got the flu last December that turned into strep-pneumonia. I ended up in the hospital for a week. They said I would have died if I hadn't come in right then. That is when I found out I was poz. I'm sure if I would have gotten seasonal flu shot last year, I probably wouldn't have gotten sick. However, I probably wouldn't have found out I was poz until my numbers were really bad. I was afraid to get tested, because I felt I probably was poz. I just lived in denial--not wanting that news.

I have also gotten the pneumonia vaccine, Hep A and B vaccines. I've read that we should also get tentanus and meningitis vaccines. I've read conflicting info about getting MMR vaccine. Some say we should get the measle, mumps, and rubella vaccines. However, others say HIVers should NOT get MMR. I've also read that if your CD-4 is below 200, you may not create a good immune response and may need a booster. I was given the pneumonia vaccine in the hospital when CD-4 was below 200. I wonder whether I got a good immune response. I've also read the pneumonia vaccine won't necessarily prevent pneumonia...rather it should make it less severe if you do get it.

My immune health has been a big question for me. When I was sick in the hospital, my CD-4 was just 171 at 19%. After getting better, my CD-4 rebounded to over 1,000 and is currently 800. Even though I cannot be sure, I'm sure my CD-4 was similar last year before getting sick. The docs told me to ignore that 171 number, because it was artificially low due to being sick. This is why I got the H1N1 vaccine. I'm still not on meds due to my "good" numbers almost exactly one year from when I got sick. I worry I could get sick again and my numbers crash. It is very perplexing. Everyone keeps telling me I'm in very good shape and I shouldn't worry about getting sick like that again. I point to the fact that I got deathly ill last year. If anything, my immune system should be worse than one year ago.

My point is that I'm not sure we can feel secure about our "good" numbers. I've read HIV could have done more damage than our numbers are telling. I would definitely tell HIVers to get all the recommended vaccines. I also quit smoking last year since learning smoking damages the filters in your body and that smokers are more likely to get pneumonias. Also, if you get severe pains in your chest, back, or side, get to the doc. I had the worse pains I've ever had in my shoulder blade and side. I passed it off as a pulled muscle. When they listened to my lungs, they sounded clear. I didn't have the usual lung sounds they normally hear with someone with pneumonia. I don't think I even had fever often seen with bacterial pneumonia. This could be due to taking Tylenol, which is fever reducer.

Ted, from what I remember, MMR is a live virus. Mim's PID recommended that she not get any live virus shots.

They had one of those mass stabbings at a local highschool. My dad was asked to head the security team. Only children under the age of 8, or children 8 - 18 with a documented (note from the doctor) health issue, and pregnant women (again, with their lab tests in hand) where allowed to even get in line. There was a check-point into the parking lot where security checked documentation before they were even allowed to park.

As they were allowed to park, everyone getting the vaccine was given a number - no need to stand in line. They opened the gym and several classrooms so folks could sit down inside. They also served cookies, juice, and coffee. Sounds harsh, but it made sure that only those who were "supposed" to have the shot got it. It also cut down on long lines and needless waiting. There were 3000 doses available. Once 3000 people had parked and gotten tickets, no more were allowed in.

I got my shot 2 weeks ago. I don't usually bother with the flu shot but figured with my CD4 count being 157 I should get it. They had a special program open to all the people of the medical center that I go to. My doc said to wait for a month to get the regular flu shot. My god daughter went for hers and they wouldn't give it to her. Turned out she had the H1N1 fever. She ended up in hospital with lung problems because of it. Being a preemie baby (she was born 1 lbs 2 ounces) she has always had minor lung problems. She was in isolation for a week but is home now and doing well.

I took the seasonal shot a month ago and the H1N1 10 days ago at a walk-in clinic. Didn't take more than 5 mins. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to prove I'm at high risk group (maybe bring lab work showing my numbers??) but no hustle at all - you just mark your group on the form, no further questions asked.

2 days ago at night (a week after getting the vax) I felt a little sicki'sh (throat was sensitive to swallow and headache), but went to bed and got up all well in the morning. They say it takes 7-10 days for the injected vax to "kick-in" (as opposed to the 1-2 days of the nasal spray vax) so I guess that was my body developing immunity.

I got the H1N1 vaccine shot last Thursday at the HIV Infectious Disease Clinic I go to at the local hospital. No bad reactions. They were also simultaneously administering the regular seasonal-flu vaccine shots, but I had already gotten that in early October at my supermarket(!). I'm a firm believer in vaccinations.

Last year I was scheduled for a flu-vaccine shot in November, but in early October I came down with the worst flu of my life. I had to get chest x-rays, and I ended up with bronchitis for a month.

« Last Edit: November 22, 2009, 08:03:06 AM by edfu »

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"No one will ever be free so long as there are pestilences."--Albert Camus, "The Plague"

"Mankind can never be free until the last brick in the last church falls on the head of the last priest."--Voltaire

i got mine on Friday,and the regular flu shot 3 weeks ago no problems with either shot my Dr said it was a good idea to get the h1n1 but said to get the shot and not the spray(shot is inactive and the nasal spray is active)there were a lot of people waiting were i went and the preregistration forms ask whether you fit into any of the risk categories which i do (diabetes) but they did not do anything to verify if this was true,so i guess there were people getting shots who did not fit into the so called criteria,you have nothing to lose by trying i guess.

Got mine this weekend at the clinic in Manhattan. For those in NYC reading this, you were not asked to show proof of being in a high risk group. I was prepared with proof, but was never asked for it. I waited in line for about an hour, but in spite of that, it was one of the best planned and organized things I have seen NYC gov't do in the 15 years I have lived here. Go to nyc.gov, find out when the next ones are and make sure you are there!! No charge - which was the icing on the cake.

i read too much about what goes into those vaccines....ill pass on the mercury

It always dissappoints me when I read comments like this. I am going to make some pointed comments, please take it personally as I do give a damn!

1. Seriousness: I have one friend who was 32 who died from Swine Flu related complications. He was otherwise poz and healthy. Another friend who is about the same age spent 6 weeks in the hospital because of swine flu. This is not a little matter. Even if you have good insurance this could be devestating if you get it.

2. Mercury: There is more than one form of it. They are not all the same. You would need to be injected with about a gallon of vaccine for the mercury to reach a lethal amount. The typical dose is .5 cc which is a very small amount, somewhere in the neighborhood of the size of a pea. A gallon for comparison is the size of a gallon of milk. You would be very sick for other reasons if you got that much of anything injected into you.

3. Fungus: Mercury is added to prevent the possibility of a fungus getting into the vaccine and then into your blood. Bloodborne fungal infections are difficult to treat and usually lethal.

4. Common sense: While it makes for good talk radio, it has no basis in reality to think that the government is "out to get yoU" or that they would deliberately make something harmful. Government simply isn't that good at keeping secrets. Besides which, it's much easier to trump up charges and just go arrest you if they wanted to get you. Make no mistake, plenty of people die each year from the flu and many will die from swine flu. I guarantee that if you could roll back time they would have gladly taken a vaccine shot. News is not news anymore, it's entertainment because that is what sells TV Ads and keeps people tuned in. Keep in mind that what you hear on TV is designed to sell ads, not teach you anything. So if you hear people talking about vaccines and that they have harmful things in them just realize that they want you to stick around and watch the ads. They will say damn near anything to keep you tuned in. It's how they make money which is what they really care about.

Lastly, if you want to skip being vaccinated that is your decision. I think it's a bad one, but you are free to make it. Just make sure you know the facts before you go posting that the stuff is poison. It would be bad enough if you got sick, wound up in the hospital, and died as a result of your choice. It would be worse if your comments led someone else to skip the vaccine and they wound up in the same place.

A 1/2 cc of prevention might save your life.

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Don't obsess over the wrong things. Life isn't about your numbers, it isn't about this forum, it isn't about someone's opinion. It's about getting out there and enjoying it. I am a person with HIV - not the other way around.

I got mine today and was told I had to go back for another in 4 weeks. Anyone else being told this?

were you told to come back for another "flu shot" or another H1N1 specifically?my clinic does a couple vax each time I go, and postpones some till later - so they don't make a pin cushion out of me. LOL I got the seasonal flu shot first and was told to come back in a few and have the h1n1. Definitely check with your doc to see if it's a second h1n1 shot

How many doses of vaccine are required?The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. This is slightly different from CDCís recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix